Independence Day celebrations are great fun for people, but the loud noises and bright lights can be traumatic and create confusion and fear for dogs. Animal shelters report that the July 4th holiday brings record numbers of runaway dogs to their doors. These dogs have been frightened and made frantic by fireworks. But by being aware and thinking ahead, we can keep our dogs as safe and comfortable as possible during the revelry.

Crowe offers the following tips for dog owners to prepare for Independence Day:

• If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be the most safe and comfortable.
• If you go to a holiday event, never leave your dog in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air, and it creates an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
• Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog’s collar in case he gets out. Talk to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure that your veterinary clinic and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.
• Don’t leave your dog outside. If you cannot bring him inside, cover his dog house with a blanket to protect him from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dog’s sense of hearing is acute-over 10 times more sensitive than humans’.
• Create a special den-like area in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him.
• Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don’t use a crate, remove any items in the room which your dog could destroy or which could hurt him if he chewed them.
• Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door and become lost.
• Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
• Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.
• If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.

July 4 is a time for fun and celebration and by taking these precautions, you and your pets can have a safe and happy holiday experience.”

The post July 4th Safety Tips For Dog Owners first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Does your dog have canine epilepsy? If so, there are five simple ways you can help reduce the severity of these attacks:

1. Have a bottle of Rescue Remedy with you, wherever the two of you may go. Rescue Remedy is an herbal, homeopathic liquid that comes in a small bottle and provides calming relaxation when placed in small dosages on the tongue. It’s sold in small bottles for about $7. You should purchase a few bottles, and have them in various locations in your home, your vehicle, and your bag for when you travel to other places. We found that it lessened the duration and severity of his seizures.

2. Avoid overstimulating your dog’s senses. A major contributor to seizures is excessive light or excessive noise that trigger a dog’s senses. Just like strobe lights are known to trigger seizures in humans, bright lights and too much noise can also trigger seizures in epileptic dogs.

You should also ask other dog owners to keep their dogs at a safe distance during a seizure. Dogs that have seizures are often seen as the weaker members of a pack, and dogs are innately designed to attack the weaker dogs, since they threaten the safety of the others. If you are indoors, turn out all the lights, be completely silent and instruct anyone else around you to be quiet as well.

3. Keep your dog safe from himself. Many canine epilepsy sufferers experience ferocious spasms that rock their entire bodies, sometimes causing the head or other parts to slam against the floor or other hard surfaces. Your dog could get hurt this way, and cause the seizure to continue longer, so you need to keep your dog’s head safe. If your dog has a seizure near a staircase, be sure he doesn’t fall down them. Make sure his airway is clear of his tongue by inspecting his throat every now and then.

4. Apply ocular compression. OC is simply an application of pressure on one or both eye balls. Many experts believe that such pressure tells the Vagus Nerve to produce the chemicals GABA and glycine, two important pieces in brain chemistry. GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, regulates the balance of chemicals in the brain and serves as an inhibitor that turns off any out of control signals to the brain, such as seizures.

5. After the seizure has ended, be sure to provide your dog with lots of attention. Epileptic seizures are scary for anyone, but imagine how your dog must feel, since he can’t even describe it to you. You will want to let your dog know how much you love him and that you will protect him. Try offering him some treats, play a game with him, or offer to go for a walk. The best gift you can give your dog and yourself after such a terrifying moment is to help him move past the moment and move on with life.

I hope these tips help you and your furry friend cope with seizures in the future. Best of luck!

The post How to Help a Dog Having a Seizure first appeared on Puppy Blog.